Adjustable bathtub overflow liquid control

ABSTRACT

An adjustable liquid control for an overflow drain of a bathtub for use in selectively controlling the level of water in the tub which includes (a) an adapter to mount to the bathtub wall in circumposed relation of the overflow drain and (b) a housing connected to the adapter and sized to cover the overflow drain, which housing includes (c) a snorkle tube extending upwardly from the housing so that when the control is mounted to the tub wall over the overflow drain, the level of the distal end of the snorkle member, through which water must flow to exit the tub through the overflow drain determines the depth of water the tub will hold above the level of the overflow drain to selectively increase the tub capacity. The level of the distal end of the snorkle tube is adjustable by either rotating the housing relative to the adapter as by telescoping action of the snorkle tube relative to the housing. The adapter is provided with an adhesive surface to attach to the tube or, alternatively, a magnetic ring to engage a metal tub.

United States Patent [191 Jette et a].

[ 51 Dec. 23, 1975 ADJUSTABLE BATHTUB OVERFLOW LIQUID CONTROL [76] Inventors: Emile Jette, 1328 NE. 110 Terrace, Miami, Fla. 33161; Maxwell Guldin, 8361 Allison Road, Miami Beach, Fla. 33141 [22] Filed: June 26, 1975 [21] Appl. No.: 590,613

Pn'mary ExaminerRobert 1. Smith [5 7] ABSTRACT An adjustable liquid control for an overflow drain of a bathtub for use in selectively controlling the level of water in the tub which includes (a) an adapter to mount to the bathtub wall in circumposed relation of the overflow drain and (b) a housing connected to the adapter and sized to cover the overflow drain, which housing includes (c) a snorkle tube extending upwardly from the housing so that when the control is mounted to the tub wall over the overflow drain, the level of the distal end of the snorkle member, through which water must flow to exit the tub through the overflow drain determines the depth of water the tub will hold above the level of the overflow drain to selectively increase the tub capacity. The level of the distal end of the snorkle tube is adjustable by either rotating the housing relative to the adapter as by telescoping action of the snorkle tube relative to the housing. The adapter is provided with an adhesive surface to attach to the tube or, alternatively, a magnetic ring to engage a metal tub.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FIELD OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND or THE-INVENTION In the past therehave been numerous efforts to control the level of water in a bathtub whereby a bather could selectively determine the level he wished-the water to rise before it would flow from the overflow drain. I n l Representative prior art devices are that shown in'the bathtub overflow shield of Serper, US. Pat. No. 1,235,387; the adjustable overflow attachment of Mueloer, U.S. Pat. No. 1,262,545; the attachment for plumbing fixtures of Waechter, US. Pat. No. 1,531,322; the overflow closure of Solomon, U.S. Pat. No. 1,598,162; the liquid level control of Cook, US. Pat. No. 2,398,921; the bathtub water regulator of Emery, U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,878; and the adjustable valve for bathtubs and the like of Kato, US Pat. No. 3,570,020.

It is, generally, an object of this invention to provide an adjustable liquid control to fit over the overflow drain of a bathtub which can be used to adjust the level of water in the tub and which includes an adapter ring to fit about the drain opening with a smooth surface with means, such as magnetic means or adhesive means, for attachment of the smooth surface of the adapter to the bathtub surface and which also includes a housing blocking normal flow through the drain opening which includes an opening in which there is an extending snorkle tube so that the distal end of the tube determines the level of water the tub will hold, and

finally, includes means for adjusting the end of the tube, so that the height of water in the tub may be adjusted.

While the numerous devices of the prior art have been for the same purpose, generally, the present invention is of an adjustable bathtub overflow liquid control which can be readily installed without the need of a plumber or trained technician to drill holes in a bathtub for mounting the device over the overflow drain. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, an adapter ring is provided which may be adhered about the bathtub drain and which adapter ring is adapted for mating engagement with a housing, which may be rotatable, and which housing is cup-shaped with an opening which, upon rotation of the housing relative to the ring adjusts the level of the water in the tub and which includes a snorkle tube which is captivated so that the distal end of the snorkle tube determines the level of the water which can be received in the tub above the overflow drain opening. In one of the preferred embodiments illustrated, the snorkle tube can be telescoped to adjust the level of the terminal end, while in the other embodiment, the housing may be rotated. The means for mounting the device over a drain opening in a preferred embodiment comprise a ring surface of the adapter which is magnitized so as to magnetically engage the surface of a cast iron or metallic tub. As an alternative embodiment, the surface of the ring which engages the tub about the drain opening may be coated 'with'an adhesive, and a liner provided to protect the adhesive when not in use and which is peeled from the liner to expose the adhesive for installing it on a tub.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS .FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa bathtub with the instant invention installed abouttheoverflow drain;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, in cross section, taken on the plane'indicated by. the ,line 2 2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. is a front elevation view of the device shown in FIG. l,'whi'ch'h as been partly brokenaway to illustrate thedetails of the same;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the device shown in FIG; 1; I j FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of an alternative construction of the instant invention; and

FIG. 6 is a partial view illustrating an alternative construction of the instant invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS ILLUSTRATED Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to the device generally. It is mounted to the wall of a bathtub B about the overflow drain designated by the letter O. The device includes an annular cup-shaped housing 12 having an outside closed face or wall 14 and an annular wall portion 16 defining an interior chamber 17. The device also includes an inner ring adapter 18, which is provided with a vertical annular flange 20 and an outer peripheral flange or lip 22 which presents a surface to mate with the adjacent inner annular peripheral edge 24 of the open end of the housing. In the preferred embodiment a magnitized plastic ring 26 is secured to the tub wall about the overflow drain 0. Extending upwardly from the cup-shaped member is a snorkle tube 28 which, as shown in FIG. 2, may be telescoped inwardly or outwardly of the cup. For this purpose the proximal end of the snorkle tube is provided with an annular flange 29 which is sized so as to be captivated within the housing by the margin of the hole 30 of the annular wall 16. The magnitized plastic ring may be of plastic material with magnetic particles embedded therein. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the ring may be provided with a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive material 32. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the ring-type adapter 34 may include a vertical annular flange 36 and an interior annular flange or lip 38 which is within the annular wall 24' of the housing and overlays the same. The magnitized plastic ring 26' may be coated with an adhesive, as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 5 so that it will adhere to any type tub surface.

In use, the device is secured to the wall over the overflow drain. It is adhesively connected or magnetically connected to the tub wall. This blocks water from leaving the tub until it has reached the level of the open distal end of the snorkle tube. As shown in FIG. 3 by rotating the housing, which is rotatably mated in the adapter, the level of the distal end of the snorkle may be adjusted relative to the drain. Alternatively, the height of the distal end of the snorkle may be adjusted by pushing it up or down, telescoping the snorkle tube into the interior of the housing to selectively control the level of water in the bathtub.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable bathtub overflow liquid control 2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said comprising: means to connect includes means connecting the housan adapter comprisin a i i d t fit about h ing and ring adapter for rotation of the housing relative drain opening of a conventional bathtub overflow to the ring p drain and including a smooth surface and including 5 The f as Set folth in claim 1 wherein Said means for attachment of the Smooth Surface of the snorkle tube includes on said first end a radially extenddapter to the bathtub f and ing flange, said flange being captivated in said housing a housing including means connecting the housing to and said tube being telescopically ad ustable in said the ring adapter, said housing and ring adapter g- 4. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bemg effectwe to block hqmd flow through the means for attachment includes magnetic means.

9 P P said housing including an open 5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mg to m fluld flow through the opening and magnetic means comprises a plastic ring with a surface out the dram Openmg, comprising plastic material impregnated with magnetic a snorkle tube having a first end and a second end, materiaL Said first end being g y received in the p g 6. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said n i sec n n being spaced fr m i fi means for attachment includes an adhesive layer on end and being open to permit water to flow through said surface.

the snorkle tube and housing. 

1. An adjustable bathtub overflow liquid control comprising: an adapter comprising a ring sized to fit about the drain opening of a conventional bathtub overflow drain and including a smooth surface and including means for attachment of the smooth surface of the adapter to the bathtub surface; and a housing including means connecting the housing to the ring adapter, said housing and ring adapter being effective to block liquid flow through the drain opening, and said housing including an opening to permit fluid to flow through the opening and out the drain opening, a snorkle tube having a first end and a second end, said first end being snugly received in the opening and said second end being spaced from said first end and being open to permit water to flow through the snorkle tube and housing.
 2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means to connect includes means connecting the housing and ring adapter for rotation of the housing relative to the ring adapter.
 3. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said snorkle tube includes on said first end a radially extending flange, said flange being captivated in said housing and said tube being telescopically adjustable in said opening.
 4. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for attachment includes magnetic means.
 5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said magnetic means comprises a plastic ring with a surface comprising plastic material impregnated with magnetic material.
 6. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for attachment includes an adhesive layer on said surface. 